Veterans Introduction Session

The Metropolitan Business League (MBL) has implemented a new innovative program in Richmond, Virginia, in collaboration with 804RVA that will teach veterans the ins and outs of starting and growing their own business. The MBL has developed an advisory committee made up of veterans with a broad range of knowledge and experience in business and assisting military personnel with the exit and transition process after service.

The Metropolitan Business League Veterans Entrepreneurship Training (VET) offers a cutting edge, experiential training in entrepreneurship and small business management to non-disabled and disabled soldiers, sailors, airmen, members of the coast guard, and marines as a result of their service. The intent of the VET is to open the door to entrepreneurial opportunity and small business ownership to veterans by developing their competencies in the many steps and activities associated with creating and sustaining an entrepreneurial venture and helping them find appropriate programs and services. MBL members, the advisory committee, and other faculty, will introduce entrepreneurship ideas and concepts, and show how to apply them to a current or potential business.

Comparable to a military boot camp, this program is intense, rigorous, and challenging. A designed comprehensive entrepreneurship curriculum, that consists of a series of training modules designed to assist veterans in creating and growing businesses that can be profitable. A team of experienced faculty and successful entrepreneurs will provide a fun, interactive, and informative experience. In addition, VET will focus on areas such as technology, accounting practices, business law, business fundamentals, business education, and business law. It will feature instruction from professors at local universities within the City of Richmond, business owners, veteran business owners, and members of the MBL.

The Veterans Entrepreneurship Training (VET) will teach participants and provide them with the necessary skills to be Entrepreneurs. VET includes four phases: 1) a four (4) week online self-study curriculum starting in March 2019 which will include reading materials and an online assessment module moderated by our entrepreneurship faculty. This phase will enable participants to work on the further development of their business concepts and prepare for the on-campus boot camp experience, (2) a VET 40 hour boot camp in April 2019, 3) 6 months of one -on- one mentoring starting in May 2018 culminated with a graduation celebration in November 2019, and 4) shared office workspace and resource center; MBL will maintain an annual agreement to pay for pop up space and allow other graduates and other MBL members to rotate every 2-3 months after testing their product or services.

The program will be free to selected veterans, with expenses underwritten by sponsors and private donors that will help with operational cost and sustainability. The application process deadline is February 15th. The VET will have the following eligibility requirements: veterans who have been identified as disabled by the Department of Veterans Affairs or Department of Defense or are "service distinguished," have been honorably discharged or "demonstrate an intense interest in entrepreneurship and small business ownership/management.